CAM memory architecture and a method of forming and operating a device according to a CAM memory architecture

ABSTRACT

A method for operating a content addressable memory that includes receiving a first data value for evaluation at a first memory block during a first time interval, receiving a second data value for evaluation at a second memory block during a second time interval and evaluating said both the first and second data values during a third time interval. According to one embodiment of the invention the first and second time intervals are separate so that the first and second data blocks receive unique data out of phase with one another from a single address bus. Evaluation of both data values takes place substantially simultaneously in the respective memory blocks. Also included is a device architecture and a device adapted to control data transfer to two CAM memory blocks in response to alternate phase transitions of a control signal.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a memory architecture and device, andmore particularly to a content addressable memory architecture anddevice.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A content addressable memory (CAM) is a memory device that permits rapidparallel searching of stored data to find a particular data value. Incontrast to most other memory formats (such as ROM and RAM memory),which are based on address-driven storage architectures, the typical CAMmemory device offers both address-driven and content-driven data access.

Address-driven memory device architectures are well-known. According toan address-driven architecture, during a memory access, a user suppliesan address and stores data, or retrieves data previously stored, at thatspecific address. For example, in an address-driven architecture, datavalues may be stored at a particular logical address by specifying theaddress on an address bus, and supplying data on a data bus to be storedat the specified address. In the same fashion, data may be retrieved onthe data bus in response to a memory address supplied on the addressbus.

As noted, the typical CAM memory device can be accessed in bothaddress-driven and content-driven fashion. Storage of data in a CAM maybe performed in an address-driven mode, as described above.Additionally, some CAM memory devices allow storage of data in a “firstavailable storage location.” For example a logical flag may be providedfor each storage location of the CAM device, indicating whether astorage location contains stored data, or is available to receive newdata. When a new data item is presented to the CAM device, each logicalflag of the logical flag set is tested simultaneously and an unusedstorage location is identified. The new data item is then stored in theunused storage location, and the logical flag associated with thatlocation is reconfigured to indicate that the location is in use.

As with data storage, data retrieval in a CAM memory may be performed onan address-driven basis. More importantly, however, CAM memory providescontent-driven data retrieval. In a content-driven data retrieval, adata pattern is presented to the CAM memory device. If the CAM memorydevice contains a previously stored data item of the same data pattern,that presence is indicated and the location in the CAM where thesearched data is stored is identified and an address connected with thematched data is returned. The CAM memory device is structured to performthe search on a highly parallel basis, conducting the search on all thedata in the CAM substantially simultaneously. Consequently, a CAM canprovide search results much more rapidly than an address-driven memorydevice, in which searches are typically performed serially, one addressat a time.

The content-driven data retrieval facility of a CAM memory is typicallyimplemented by providing an array of storage cells connected in anextensive wired-or configuration. This architecture allows a multi-bitdata word applied to an input of the CAM device to be compared,substantially simultaneously, with the data words stored in everylocation of the CAM.

FIG. 1 shows a simplified schematic representation of a CAM memorydevice 10, as known in the art. The CAM device includes a searchregister 12 and a plurality of storage words 14. Each storage word 14includes multiple CAM memory cells 16. The search register 12 includes acorresponding plurality of search register bits 18. The search register12 is coupled to each of the storage words 14 by a parallel bus 20, sothat each cell 16 (for example cell 22) of a storage word 14 is coupledto a corresponding bit (for example 24) of the search register 12. Eachstorage word is coupled to a corresponding match line 26. The match line26 exhibits electrical capacitance (represented as lumped capacitance28) and can be pre-charged to a particular electrical potential by aprecharge circuit 30.

As shown at 22 each CAM memory cell 16 of each storage word 14 includesa circuit 34 adapted to switchingly couple a particular match line 27 toground 32. The circuit includes an input 36 coupled to the data bus 20.The input 36 is coupled to a gate of a transistor 38. Transistor 38 iscoupled in series with another transistor 40 between the particularmatch line 27 and ground 32. Input 36 is also coupled, through aninverter 42, to a gate of another transistor 44. Transistor 44 iscoupled in series with another transistor 46 between the particularmatch line 27 and ground 32. A gate of transistor 46 is coupled to amemory element 50. The memory element 50 controls the gate of transistor46 according to a binary value D stored within memory element 50. A gateof transistor 40 is coupled to a memory element 48. The memory element48 controls the gate of transistor 40 according to a binary value equalto the complement of D stored within memory element 48.

If the binary data received at input 36 is not equal to D, then theparticular match line 27 is switchingly coupled to ground 32 througheither transistor 38 and transistor 40 or transistor 44 and transistor46. If the binary data received at input 36 is equal to D, then theparticular circuit 34 does not ground the particular match line 27. Ifthe data values received at the other respective inputs of theparticular storage word 29 all match the corresponding “D” values of therespective memory cells 16 of storage word 29, then the particular matchline 27 is not grounded at all. Accordingly, match line 27 remains at adetectably high potential, and a data match between the data values heldin the search register 12 and the particular storage word 29 isindicated.

In operation, each match line is charged to a precharge voltage by theaction of the precharge circuit 30. A binary value is stored in thesearch register 12. Corresponding binary values are applied to thestorage words 14 over the parallel bus 20. If a bit value in the searchregister differs from a corresponding bit value in a search word 14,that search word switches to provide an electrical path between therespective match line 26 and ground 32. The capacitance 28 of the matchline 26 is thus discharged, indicating, by a resulting low match linevoltage, that the value in the storage word 14 does not match the valuein the search register 12. If a match line remains high (ungrounded),this indicates that the storage word 14 coupled to that match line 26contains the same value as that present in the search register 12.

In at least some prior art CAM devices, memory cells are arranged in aplurality of memory blocks on a substrate. Each memory block isconnected to a respective dedicated data bus that supplies data to thememory block. Different data can be provided on each dedicated data bus.As a result different data may be searched in different memory blocks atthe same time. A device 100 constructed according to this architectureis shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 shows a substrate 201 on which are formed first 202 and second204 memory blocks. Each memory block includes a plurality of CAM memorycells 16 formed on the substrate. The first memory block 202 has a firstdata input port 206 coupled to a first search register 208. The secondmemory block 204 has a second data input port 210 coupled to a secondsearch register 212. The first 208 and second 212 search registers areeach coupled to a respective search data bus 215, 217. A first controlline 219 is coupled to a first control input 218 of the first memoryblock 202 and a second control input 222 of the first search register208. A second control line 221 is coupled to a third control input 220of the second memory block 204 and to a fourth control input 224 of thesecond search register 212.

A control circuit 226 is coupled to the control lines 219, 221. Thecontrol circuit 226 is adapted to apply respective control signals tothe control lines 219, 221, thereby initiating comparisons between thevalues in the search registers 208, 212 and storage words made up ofmemory cells 16 within the corresponding memory blocks 202, 204. Becauseeach memory block has its own data bus 219, 221, this arrangement iscostly in terms of device complexity and associated manufacturingyields, device real estate, and device energy and thermal budgets.

This costliness is a factor in the economics of CAM applications.Accordingly it is desirable to produce a CAM a memory integrated circuithaving an improved data bus architecture.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes anarchitecture for a memory integrated circuit that exhibits greater arealefficiency and reduced complexity as compared with prior art designs. Inone aspect of the invention, data on a data bus is time multiplexed soas to reduce the requirement for data conductors on an integratedcircuit. Consequently, in one embodiment, the present invention includesa CAM that is compact as compared with prior art CAM devices. Accordingto one embodiment of the invention, a CAM device includes an integratedcircuit device with two or more memory blocks of CAM memory cells. Thememory blocks of CAM memory cells are supported by a substrate. Thesubstrate also supports a data bus that is mutually coupled to twosearch registers of at least two of the memory blocks respectively. Thedata bus supplies data to the two search registers according toalternating transitions of a periodic clock signal.

According to one embodiment, the invention includes a method foroperating a content addressable memory that includes receiving a firstdata value for evaluation at a first memory block during a first timeinterval, receiving a second data value for evaluation at a secondmemory block during a second time interval and evaluating said both thefirst and second data values during a third time interval. According toone embodiment of the invention the first and second time intervals areseparate so that the first and second data blocks receive unique dataout of phase with one another from a single address bus. Evaluation ofboth data values takes place substantially simultaneously in therespective memory blocks.

The above and other features and advantages of the invention will bemore readily understood from the following detailed description of theinvention which is provided in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a simplified representation of a portion of a conventionalcontent addressable memory device in block diagram form;

FIG. 2 shows a simplified representation of a portion of a conventionalcontent addressable memory device in block diagram form;

FIG. 3 shows a content addressable memory device in block diagram formaccording to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a signal timing diagram including control signal timingaccording to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart showing steps for a read operation according toone embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart for manufacturing a content addressable memorydevice according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 shows a digital system including a content addressable memoryaccording to one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 8 shows a communications network including a router with a contentaddressable memory according to one aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention includes a CAM memorydevice architecture in which a single data bus is used to convey data totwo memory blocks of a single CAM memory device in time multiplexedform. Respective data values are provided to the two memory blocksaccording to alternating phase transitions of a control signal.Consequently, a single data bus serves the function of two separateprior art data buses. The result is a savings in integrated circuit realestate and complexity, since one data bus is provided rather than two.Various exemplary aspects of the invention are directed to thearchitecture, and its method of formation, and to operation of a CAMmemory device according to the invention.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary CAM memory device 200 according to oneembodiment of the invention. The CAM device 200 includes a substrate201. The substrate may include any supporting structure including, butnot limited to a semiconductor substrate that has an exposed substratesurface. The substrate may be a semiconductor substrate or othersubstrate. Semiconductor substrates should be understood to includesilicon, silicon-on-insulator (SOI), silicon-on-sapphire (SOS), dopedand undoped semiconductors, epitaxial layers of silicon supported by abase semiconductor foundation, and other semiconductor structures. Thesubstrate may include regions or junctions in or over the basesemiconductor or foundation formed during preparatory process steps.

A plurality of CAM memory cells 16 are formed on the substrate.According to one embodiment, the cells are arranged into discrete memoryblocks 202, 204. One of the memory blocks 202 has a first data inputport 206 coupled to a first search register 208. Another of the memoryblocks 204 has a second data input port 210 coupled to a second searchregister 212. The first 208 and second 212 search registers are mutuallycoupled to a single search data bus 214.

The search data bus consists of a plurality of data lines coupled toprovide data in parallel format to the first search register 208 andsecond search register 212. In an alternative embodiment of theinvention, the data bus may consist of one or more data lines adapted toprovide data in serial format to the first search register 208 andsecond search register 212. The data lines may include varioustransmission media such as strip-lines, micro-strip lines, or waveguidestructures including optical waveguide structures. In one embodiment,the inverter 42 (as shown in FIG. 1) is omitted from the CAM memorycells 16, and the data bus 214 includes complemented data lines.

A control line 216 is mutually coupled to a first control input 218 ofthe first memory block 202 and a second control input 220 of the secondmemory block 204. The control line 216 is also mutually coupled to athird control input 222 of the first search register 208 and to a fourthcontrol input 224 of the second search register 212. The control linemay be formed of conductive material such as polysilicon or metallicmaterial, or the control line may be formed as a waveguide, such as anoptical waveguide. A control circuit 226 is formed on the substrate 201and coupled to the control line 216. The control circuit 226 is adaptedto apply a control signal 304 (as discussed below in relation to in FIG.4) to the control line 216. According to various embodiments of theinvention, buffer circuits adapted to amplify control or data signalsmay be provided on the substrate 201 in conjunction with the data busand/or control signal lines.

As shown in FIG. 3, the memory blocks 202, 204 are disposed in spacedrelation to one another. The search registers 208, 212 and the searchdata bus 214 are disposed between the memory blocks 202 and 204.

FIG. 4 shows a timing diagram 300 indicating signal timing relationshipsfor operation of the FIG. 3 CAM memory device. Reference is made to atime axis 302. A control signal 304 is shown as a substantially periodicsubstantially symmetric square wave signal. The control signal 304includes downward transitions 306 at periodically repeating times 308and upward transitions 310 at periodically repeating times 312. Graph314 shows the time intervals 316 when first data, destined for the firstsearch register 208, is stable on the search data bus 214. These timeintervals 316 begin at periodically repeating times 318 and end atperiodically repeating times 320. Graph 322 shows the further timeintervals 324 when second data, destined for the second search register212, is stable on the search bus 214. These further time intervals 324begin at periodically repeating times 320 and end at periodicallyrepeating times 318. Graph 326 shows the time intervals 328 during whichstable output data is available at output port 228 of memory block 202and output port 230 of memory block 204. An evaluation time intervalbeginning at periodic time 312 is indicated by reference numeral 330.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart 500 illustrating steps for reading a contentaddressable memory device according to one embodiment of the invention.In a first step 502 first comparand data is received onto data bus 214(as shown in FIG. 3). In a second step 504 the first comparand data islatched into first search register 208. The latching of first comparanddata into first search register 208 is triggered by downward transition306 of signal 304, (as shown in FIG. 4). Referring again to FIG. 5, in athird step 506 second comparand data is received on to data bus 214. Ina fourth step 508 second comparand data is latched into second searchregister 212. In the instant embodiment, latching of second comparanddata into second search register 212 is triggered by upward transition310 of signal 304 (a shown in FIG. 4). The upward transition 310 is alsoreceived at the first 202 and second 204 memory blocks, as shown in step510 of FIG. 5. As shown in step 512, the upward transition 310 of signal304 also initiates the evaluation of fist data in first memory block 202and second memory block 204. This evaluation takes place during timeinterval 330 (as shown in FIG. 4). In step 514, first evaluation resultsare received at first output 228 of first memory block 202 and at secondoutput 230 of second memory block 204. This takes place during periodictime interval 328 (as shown in FIG. 4).

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart 600 illustrating the steps for manufacturing,according to one embodiment of the invention, a content addressablememory device. In a first step 602 a substrate is provided. In a secondstep 604 a plurality of CAM memory cells are formed on the substrate201. The cells are formed in at least first 202 and second 204 blocks ofcells. In a third step 606, first 208 and second 212 search registersare formed on the substrate 201. In step 608, the first search register208 is coupled to the first memory block 202 and second searchregistered 212 is coupled to the second memory block 204. In step 610data bus 214 is formed over the substrate 201. As described above, thedata bus may include a parallel or serial architecture data bus, and mayinclude a variety of transmission media, including conductors,transmission lines, and waveguides including optical waveguides. In step612 the data bus is coupled to both the first 208 and second 212 searchregisters. In step 614 a control line is formed over the substrate. Instep 616, the control line is coupled to the first 208 and second 212search registers and to the first 202 and second 204 memory blocks. Instep 618 a control circuit 226 is formed over the substrate, and in step620, and output of the control circuit 226 is coupled to the controlline 216. In step 622 first 228 and second output ports 230 are formedover the substrate. In step 624, the first output port 228 is coupled tothe first memory block 202 and second output port 230 is coupled to thesecond memory block 204.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary processing system 800 which utilizes aCAM device 200 constructed as described above with reference to FIGS.1-6. The processing system 800 includes one or more processors 801coupled to a local bus 804. A memory controller 802 and a primary busbridge 803 are also coupled the local bus 804. The processing system 800may include multiple memory controllers 802 and/or multiple primary busbridges 803. The memory controller 802 and the primary bus bridge 803may be integrated as a single device 806.

The memory controller 802 is also coupled to one or more memory buses807. Each memory bus accepts memory components 808, which include atleast one memory device 200 of the invention. Alternatively, in asimplified system, the memory controller 802 may be omitted and thememory components directly coupled to one or more processors 801. Thememory components 808 may be a memory card or a memory module. Thememory components 808 may include one or more additional devices 809.For example, the additional device 809 might be a configuration memory.The memory controller 802 may also be coupled to a cache memory 805. Thecache memory 805 may be the only cache memory in the processing system.Alternatively, other devices, for example, processors 801 may alsoinclude cache memories, which may form a cache hierarchy with cachememory 805. If the processing system 800 include peripherals orcontrollers which are bus masters or which support direct memory access(DMA), the memory controller 802 may implement a cache coherencyprotocol. If the memory controller 802 is coupled to a plurality ofmemory buses 807, each memory bus 807 may be operated in parallel, ordifferent address ranges may be mapped to different memory buses 807.

The primary bus bridge 803 is coupled to at least one peripheral bus810. Various devices, such as peripherals or additional bus bridges maybe coupled to the peripheral bus 810. These devices may include astorage controller 811, a miscellaneous I/O device 814, a secondary busbridge 815, a multimedia processor 818, and a legacy device interface820. The primary bus bridge 803 may also coupled to one or more specialpurpose high speed ports 822. In a personal computer, for example, thespecial purpose port might be the Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP), usedto couple a high performance video card to the processing system 800.

The storage controller 811 couples one or more storage devices 813, viaa storage bus 812, to the peripheral bus 810. For example, the storagecontroller 811 may be a SCSI controller and storage devices 813 may beSCSI discs. The I/O device 814 may be any sort of peripheral. Forexample, the I/O device 814 may be an local area network interface, suchas an Ethernet card. The secondary bus bridge may be used to interfaceadditional devices via another bus to the processing system. Forexample, the secondary bus bridge may be a universal serial port (USB)controller used to couple USB devices 817 via a secondary bus 816 andthe secondary bus bridge 815 to the processing system 800. Themultimedia processor 818 may be a sound card, a video capture card, orany other type of media interface, which may also be coupled to one ormore additional devices such as speakers 819. The legacy deviceinterface 820 is used to couple one or more legacy devices 821, forexample, older styled keyboards and mice, to the processing system 800.

The processing system 800 illustrated in FIG. 7 is only an exemplaryprocessing system with which the invention may be used. While FIG. 7illustrates a processing architecture especially suitable for a generalpurpose computer, such as a personal computer or a workstation, itshould be recognized that well known modifications can be made toconfigure the processing system 800 to become more suitable for use in avariety of applications. For example, many electronic devices whichrequire processing may be implemented using a simpler architecture whichrelies on a CPU 801 coupled CAM memory devices 200.

FIG. 8 shows a communications network 900 according to one aspect of theinvention. The network includes a modem 902 having a first port 904adapted to be coupled to the Internet 906 and a second port 908 adaptedto be coupled to a local area network 910. A router 912 has aremote-side port 914 coupled to the second port 908 of the modem, and aninterface 916 including a plurality of local ports for connection tolocal devices. The router 912 includes a processor 918 for receiving andprocessing information received from and/or destined for the localdevices. The router also includes a content accessible memory device 200according to one embodiment of the invention, as described above. Thecontent accessible memory 200 is coupled to the processor 918 andadapted to store and retrieve data under the control of the processor. Avariety of local devices are coupled to respective local ports, of theinterface 916, including general-purpose computers 922, telephonedevices 924, and network router devices 926.

The description and drawings presented above illustrate only a few ofthe many embodiments which achieve the features and advantages of thepresent invention. Modification and substitutions to specific processconditions and structures can be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not tobe considered as being limited by the foregoing description anddrawings, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A content addressable memory comprising: first and second search registers for storing first and second search data to be compared with first and second stored data stored in respective first and second memory blocks; and a data bus for providing first and second search data to said first and second registers, respectively, said data bus being coupled to said first search register and said second search register.
 22. A content addressable memory as in claim 21, wherein: said first memory block being capable of comparing said first stored data to said first search data and providing a first comparison output; and said second memory block being capable of comparing said second stored data to said second search data and providing a second comparison output.
 23. A content addressable memory as in claim 22, further comprising a control circuit mutually coupled to said first search register and to said second search register, said control circuit being operable to provide a first and second control signal to control said first and second search registers such that first search data from said data bus is received by said first search register during a first time interval and second search data from said data bus is received by said second search register during a second time interval.
 24. A content addressable memory as in claim 23, wherein said control circuit is mutually coupled to said first memory block and to said second memory block, said control circuit being operable to provide signals such that said first and second search data are evaluated by said first and second memory blocks during a third time interval.
 25. A content addressable memory as in claim 24, wherein said data bus is a serial data bus.
 26. A content addressable memory as in claim 24, wherein said data bus is a parallel data bus.
 27. A content addressable memory as in claim 24, wherein said data lines are strip lines.
 28. A content addressable memory as in claim 24, wherein said data lines are waveguide structures.
 29. A method of forming a content addressable memory comprising: forming first and second memory blocks over a substrate for storing first and second stored data; forming first and second search registers for storing first and second search data to be compared with said first and second stored data, said first and second search registers respectively coupled to said first and second memory blocks; and forming a data bus over said substrate for providing first and second search data to said first and second registers, respectively, said data bus being coupled to said first search register and said second search register.
 30. A method of forming a content addressable memory as defined in claim 29, wherein: said first memory block being capable of comparing said first stored data to said first search data and providing a first comparison output; and said second memory block being capable of comparing said second stored data to said second search data and providing a second comparison output.
 31. A method of forming a content addressable memory as defined in claim 30, further comprising forming a control circuit over said substrate coupled to said first search register and to said second search register, said control circuit being operable to provide a first and second control signal to control said first and second search registers such that first search data from said data bus is received by said first search register during a first time interval and second search data from said data bus is received by said second search register during a second time interval.
 32. A method of forming a content addressable memory as defined in claim 31, wherein said control circuit is mutually coupled to said first memory block and to said second memory block, said control circuit being operable to provide signals such that said first and second search data are evaluated by said first and second memory blocks during a third time interval.
 33. A router comprising: a processor; and a content addressable memory coupled to said processor, said content addressable memory comprising: first and second search registers for storing first and second search data to be compared with first and second stored data stored in respective first and second memory blocks; and a data bus for providing first and second search data to said first and second registers, respectively, said data bus being coupled to said first search register and said second search register.
 34. A router as in claim 33, wherein: said first memory block being capable of comparing said first stored data to said first search data and providing a first comparison output; and said second memory block being capable of comparing said second stored data to said second search data and providing a second comparison output.
 35. A router as in claim 34, further comprising a control circuit mutually coupled to said first search register and to said second search register, said control circuit being operable to provide a first and second control signal to control said first and second search registers such that first search data from said data bus is received by said first search register during a first time interval and second search data from said data bus is received by said second search register during a second time interval.
 36. A router as in claim 35, wherein said control circuit is mutually coupled to said first memory block and to said second memory block, said control circuit being operable to provide signals such that said first and second search data are evaluated by said first and second memory blocks during a third time interval.
 37. A communication network system comprising: a plurality of computers; a communication medium coupling said plurality of computers to a router, said router including a content addressable memory device, said content addressable memory device having: first and second search registers for storing first and second search data to be compared with first and second stored data stored in respective first and second memory blocks; and a data bus for providing first and second search data to said first and second registers, respectively, said data bus being coupled to said first search register and said second search register.
 38. A system as in claim 37, wherein: said first memory block being capable of comparing said first stored data to said first search data and providing a first comparison output; and said second memory block being capable of comparing said second stored data to said second search data and providing a second comparison output.
 39. A system as in claim 38, further comprising a control circuit mutually coupled to said first search register and to said second search register, said control circuit being operable to provide a first and second control signal to control said first and second search registers such that first search data from said data bus is received by said first search register during a first time interval and second search data from said data bus is received by said second search register during a second time interval.
 40. A system as in claim 39, wherein said control circuit is mutually coupled to said first memory block and to said second memory block, said control circuit being operable to provide signals such that said first and second search data are evaluated by said first and second memory blocks during a third time interval.
 41. A digital system comprising: a central processing unit; an I/O port device coupled to said central processing unit; a memory data bus coupled to said central processing unit; and a content addressable memory device, said content addressable memory device including: first and second search registers for storing first and second search data to be compared with first and second stored data stored in respective first and second memory blocks; and a data bus for providing first and second search data to said first and second registers, respectively, said data bus being coupled to said first search register and said second search register.
 42. A system as in claim 41, wherein: said first memory block being capable of comparing said first stored data to said first search data and providing a first comparison output; and said second memory block being capable of comparing said second stored data to said second search data and providing a second comparison output.
 43. A system as in claim 42, further comprising a control circuit mutually coupled to said first search register and to said second search register, said control circuit being operable to provide a first and second control signal to control said first and second search registers such that first search data from said data bus is received by said first search register during a first time interval and second search data from said data bus is received by said second search register during a second time interval.
 44. A system as in claim 43, wherein said control circuit is mutually coupled to said first memory block and to said second memory block, said control circuit being operable to provide signals such that said first and second search data are evaluated by said first and second memory blocks during a third time interval. 